RESIDENTS have been asked for their opinion on a scheme to improve life on their estate.

Easington District Council is considering introducing a Selective Licensing policy for privately rented homes in the Wembley area of Easington Colliery.

All private landlords would be required to apply for a licence from the council before they could rent out a property.

This would allow the authority to improve living conditions for tenants by raising the standard of rented homes, officials said.

To give landlords and members of the public a say on the proposals, the council is holding a drop-in event on Wednesday, at the Parish Rooms, Crawlaw Road, between 2pm and 6pm. Questionnaires have also been sent out.

Landlords must be able to prove they are taking adequate steps to properly manage their properties and be a "fit and proper person" to manage a tenancy.

The Wembley area has been chosen for the initiative due to a number of empty homes.